Senegal says it is cutting diplomatic ties with Iran over Iranian weapon supplies to separatist rebels blamed for killing three Senegalese soliders earlier this week.

The Reuters news agency quotes Senegal's Foreign Minstry as making the announcement in a state-run television broadcast.

The Foreign Ministry statement linked Iranian-supplied weapons to an attack on February 20 in the southern Casamance region that killed three Senegalese soldiers.

In December, Senegal recalled its ambassador to Iran, saying the government of the west African country was unsatisfied with explanations given by Iranian officials over a seizure of mortars and rockets in Nigeria in October.

Neighboring Gambia has also cut ties with Tehran over the arms shipment.